Friction letoff for looms



March 2, 1954 P. RANDALL ETAL FRICTION LETOFF FOR LOOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 17, 1952 LOUIS P RANDALL and MILES W SNIPES,

INVENTORS.

m we

ATTORNEYS.

March 2, 1954 L. P. RANDALL ET AL FRICTION LETOFF FOR LOOMS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1'7. 1952 Lows P RANDALL and MILES W SNIPES,

INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS March 1954 L. P. RANDALL ETAL 7 6 FRICTION LETOFF FOR LOOMSFiled April 17, 1952 4 Sheets-$heet 3 Lows P dPANDALL an Muzs W. SNIPEs.

BY 5am +M vINVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

L. P. RANDALL ET AL FRICTION LETOFF FOR LOOMS March 2, 1954 4Sheets-Shae- 4 Filed April 17, 1952 1 9- LoulSagdRANDfll-L MILES W.5mPEs.

INVENTORS.

BY 5034 .F M

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATErS FFIQE HUJZI N' LETO Q LO MS Louis P. Randall and Miles W,Snipes,

Lancaster; S

A p ica i n April 11 1952, s a No 2 1,82

15 Claims. (01. 139710? This invention relates to textile looms and,more especially, to an improved constant tension friction let-elftherefor.

There are at least two general types of let-off mechanisms in common usetoday high speed looms, which let-off mechanisms are commonly termed aspositive let-offs and friction let-offs. As is well known, the positivelet-offs of the Bartlett or the Roper types, employ positive actuatingmeans acting through a braking mechanism to cause the warp beam torotate and thus pay off the warp intermittently. However, theintermittent operation of the positive type of let-ofis has not beenentirely satisfactory because they permit pericdic variations in tensionof the warp yarns or threads which result in so-called thick and thinplaces in the woven cloth which results in wavy cloth and the productionofsecongls" with consequent loss to the textile mill operator.

The friction type let-01f has proven more satisfaetory since the warp islet offuniforrnly and constantly and therefore, it is the primary 0biectof this invention to provide a friction letoff mechanism which may bemore simply constructed, installed and maintained thanfriction e -o fs hret ore emp y d nd ich. i mo e efficient in maintaining uniform tensionin the Wa yar s r h ads than f on t-ofi hi h e ur en y in re -v It a bjt f s nv n on to prov d an mrrov d fric i n l tf f l om wher in arp beei pro ided w th a ge an a s eed eltir 'yi e seer s eo neeted to ee owaram ear and wherein a o or fri tion em n i riven by aid s eed mult ply ngear the imrovern rrt in uding a stator rio iorr element restrained fromrotation and means cqnt oliegi y variation in the diameter of t e WarpWound n t e war-o been for varying the o e stator iriot on e ement aganst the roto trioion element. sa d means eo n ri ine a first earn emb radapted to m e wit a fo lowe arm rranged to be r the yarn on. the ereeen. an said firs ea n membe he ri g a ainst a eeeor e can member ar on.a pre sure an er: g hearing against the. eorfaee of he sta or fr c ionel ment m te from. that faee whic e gages the rotor fr cti n element ndwhereb relati e mo ement etwerr the nd econd 9am membe s causes pressuronplying mechanism to move relative to the rotor friction e ement tortorn. co tr l the pressur of the stator ir e element against the rotorfriction element and of oorrir ng the.

tension in the warp yarns as they are paid off vide a friction let-offmechanism of the character last described with manually operable meansfor quickly releasing the pressure applying mechanism from engagementwith the stator friction element to thereby permit an operator to rotatethe warp beam Without being encumbored by the friction let-offmechanism, as may be desirablein the event of a smash, i. e., the Ibreaking of a plurality of the warp yarns at the fell of the cloth orfor any one of many other reasons well known to those familiar with theart.

It is still another object of this invention to provide means forcontrolling the amount of tension effected by the friction let-offmechanism in the warp yarns relative to the friction effected betweenthe rotor and stator friction elements by the first and second cam meansheretofore described. other Words, a means is provided for varying theamount of pressure exerted by the pressure applying mechanism en thestator friction element although the first and second cam members arenot moved relative t9 each th r Some of the objects of the inventionhaving been stated ether objects will appear as the descripitionproceeds when taken in connection with the aceompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the rear portion oithe left-hand side of a loom sh qwing the improved friction let-off inassoiatior 'therewitr d o in the a le an? ember in ltern te Posit ons;

F ure an ele a ion, w th ar br ken, away, looki at. the l t-hand d o F ul and e r wine ooly the. port on o the o d a: cent the improved frictionlet-off mechanism;

Figure 3 a fragmentary sectional plan view looking down substantiallyalong the line 3--3 in Figure '1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, mostly inelevation, taken substantially along the line 44 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is aview similar to Figure 4 but showret parts i a i e e pos ioFigure 6 a vertical sectional view, mostly in levation. ta en eobetrrtiel l e e l 5+5 in Figu 1 with ar s b oke a a i ore 7 i errlere eertieel eeei on l v ew ater; substan ally alon the li 1 in. igure 2Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in Figure4;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view, on a reduced scale, takensubstantially along the line 9-9 in Figure 7 and showing the rotorfriction element in elevation;

Figure 10 (Sheet 2) is a fragmentary isometric view of the pressureapplying disk and lever which are instrumental in effecting movement tothe stator friction element and looking substantially along line lit-Illin Figure 7.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral It! indicatesthe side frame member of a loom to which one end of a transverse framemember or girt I I is suitably secured, there being a side frame membersimilar to the frame member ID positioned at the other side of the 100mnot shown, for supporting the other end of the girt ll. Each of the sideframe members ID has a bracket I2 secured thereto which brackets supportopposite ends of a shaft I3 of a warp beam I4 for rotation therein. Theopposite ends of the warp beam I4 each has a disk or head i5 thereon andwarp yarns Y are wound about the warp beam I4 between the disks I 5.

The warp yarns Y extend upwardly in Figure 1 from the warp beam I4 andpass over a guide roll or whip roll I6 supported for rotation inbrackets I! which extend forwardly and are secured to a transverse whiproll shaft 20 oscillatably mounted in suitable brackets 2| secured tothe side frame members ID of the loom. Although only a single one ofeach of the brackets I1 and 21 is shown, it is evident that similarbrackets are disposed at the opposite side of the loom.

The yarns Y then pass forwardly from the whip roll l6 through the usualweaving instrumentalities, not shown, and then to a suitable takeupmechanism shown schematically at 23 in Figure 1. This take-up mechanismmay be the usual sand roll of the loom. The disk or beam head I 5 has arelatively large gear 24 fixed thereon which meshes with a speedmultiplying gear or pinion 25 fixed on the inner end of a let-01f shaft26 which is a part of the improved friction let-off mechanism broadlydesignated at 27 and which will be later described in detail.

The shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in a let-01f shaft bracket 30 suitablysecured to the inner surface of the side frame member l0, and also beingsuitably secured to the transverse frame member or girt H (Figure 2). Aconventional beam lever or follower arm 33 bears against the warp on thewarp beam M. This beam'lever 33 extends downwardly and the lower endthereof is fixed on one end of a beam lever shaft 34 oscillatablymounted in a beam lever bracket 35 suitably secured to the side framemember ID.

A suitable spring means is provided for normally urging the free end ofthe beam lever 33 against the warp wound about the warp beam I4 and, tothis end, a beam lever spring in the form of a torsion spring 31surrounds the shaft 34 and one end of the spring 3'! is secured to thebracket 35, the other end thereof being secured to the shaft 34. Collars38, fixed on shaft 34, prevent endwise movement of shaft 34 relative tobracket 35. The parts heretofore described are conventional parts of theusual types of looms having a let-off mechanism associated therewith andit is with these parts that the improved friction let-off mechanism 2'!is adapted to be associated. The drawings show only a portion of aweaving loom since a description of the Willem-z '4 ing parts of theloom is not necessary for a complete understanding of the presentinvention.

The improved friction let-off 27 comprises a stator friction element 48and a rotor friction element M. The stator and rotor friction elementsti! and 4! are shown in the form of disks, the stator friction disk 49being provided with peripheral flange 42 which projects inwardly towardthe frame member ID and loosely encircles the rotor friction disk 4| Therotor friction disk M is provided with a plurality of friction blocks 53which project outwardly therefrom and frictionally engage the proximatesurface of the stator friction disk 40.

The friction blocks 43 are preferably formed from cork or other frictionmaterial. It is to be understood that a disk of friction material may besecured to either the stator or rotor friction element 40 or 4! in lieuof the friction blocks 43, if desired. The rotor friction element 4| issuitably secured on the let-off shaft 25, as by a key 44 and a set screw45, said set screw threadably penetrating the hub of the rotor frictionelement GI. element AI slidably and rotatably engages the outer surfaceof the bracket 30, which bracket loosely penetrates a suitable opening46 in the side frame member II) of the loom.

The shaft it penetrates the hub of the stator friction element 46 forrotation relative thereto and the outer end of the shaft 26 also looselypenetrates a pressure applying disk 4! of a pressure applying mechanismdesignated broadly at 5E1 (Figures 2, 3, 6, '7, 8 and 10). The innersurface of the pressure applying disk 41 bears against the outer surfaceof the hub of the stator friction element or disk 40 as is clearly shownin Figures 3, 6 and '7. As best shown in Figures 1 and 10, the pressureapplying mechanism 50 also comprises a pressure applying lever arm 5Iprovided with an enlarged annular portion 52 intermediate the endsthereof which loosely surrounds the pressure applying disk 41 and isprovided with a pair of diametrically opposed grooves or slots 53therein.

The pressure applying disk 41 has a pair ofdiametrically opposedprojections 54 integral therewith which are preferably circular incrosssection and slidably penetrate the grooves or slots 53 in theannular portion 52 of the lever arm 5|. The lever arm 5| and thepressure applying disk t! may be integral, if desired. However, thelever arm 5I pivots about a vertical axis as it moves inwardly andoutwardly rela tive to the shaft 26 and the present structurefacilitates uniform engagement of the pressure.

applying disk 41 against the hub of the stator friction element 49.

The frame of the improved let-ofi mechanism 21 comprises a standard 60(Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8) on which the rear end of the pressureapplying lever arm 5I may be pivotally mounted for pivotal movementabout a vertical axis. However, a novel means is provided to permitpivotal movement of the rear end of the lever arm 5| which meansfacilitates adjustment of the corresponding end of the lever arminwardly and outwardly relative to the rotor friction element 4| andwhich is quickly releasable to facilitate manual rotation of the warpbeam I4 without being encumbered by the improved friction letoff 21.

To this end, it will be observed in Figures 41' and 5 that the upper endof the standard 60 spaced outwardly from the rear end of thepres-- Thus,the hub of the rotor frictionsource sure applying lever arm at and has acavity M in the inner face thereof which is preferably polygonalincross-sectionfor slidable reception of a plunger 62. The plunger 62- isengaged by an ad.- justment screw Gtwhich threadably penetrates theupper end of the standard 60- and a hand wheel 64 fixed on the outerend. thereof for ma nipulation by an operator. The screw 63 is; provided to vary the position of the plunger 62 relative to the standard.60- for purposes! to.- be later described. A suitable lock nut 65- istiri'eadably mounted on the screw 63 for locking the same in anydesiredadjusted position.

'lhe bifurcated inner end of the plunger 6.2 hasa follower wheel orroller 65 rotatably mounted therein which ncrmally'engages'an eccentriccam 65. fixed: on a shaft 61 which is held against: the outer surface ofthe corresponding end of the lever arm at, in parallelrelation. to thelongitudi-- nal axis thereof, by suitable bearing blocks It. The bearingblocks 'H} are suitably secured to the. outer surface of. the lever armM: as by welding (Figure 8).

It will be observed in Figures 2 and 8' that; the shaft. 61 extendsrearwardly' and: is bent at right angles to form a handle portion llwhich. is adapted. to be manipulated by an operator for varying theposition. of the eccentric cam 66; as shown in Figures 4 and. 5.. Thelever: arm 5.1 is

provided with a cavity it to accommodate the cam 66' when it facesinwardly as shown in Figure 5. It will be noted that the cam as isprovided with a notch; 13 in the periphery thereof and at the high pointthereof, which notch $3 isadapted to be engaged by the follower wheel.65 when the cam. 66' is in the position shown in. Figure: 4,, this beingthe normal operative position ofth-e cam 66 during operation of theimproved friction letoff 21'.

It is thus seen that. the pressure applying lever arm 51 may pivot abouta vertical axis relative to the follower wheel 65. The notch 13 theeccentric cam 66' is maintained in engagement with the roller orfollower wheel 65 due to the pressure of the. rotorfriction element Magainst the stator friction element 4ft which pressure is transmitted tothe cam 66 through the pressure applying mechanism 50;

The front portion of the pressure app-lying lever arm 5! normally bearsagainst the lower surface of the horizontal leg of an invertedsubstantially L-shaped' gauge member or guide M cFigures 1, 2, 3 and6'). The gauge member 7% is provided to assist an operator in properlypositioning the lever 5! when it isinstalled asshown in thedrawings. Thefront end of the lever arm 5-6, that is, the end remote from theeccentric cam 65, has a longitudinally extending cam member F5 (Figures1, 3, 6 and 7) suitably secured thereto or which may be an integral partthereof. The front portion of the cam i5 is substantially thicker thanthe rear portion thereof, as is clearly shown Figures 3 and '7, so theouter surface of the rear end of the cam 75 adjacent the disks 4'0, M ispositioned closer to the disks than the front end of the cam 15 inplanes parallel to the axis of the" surface of an auxiliary cam followerarm 83 (Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7). g

The cam follower arm 80 extends downwardly and is fixed on the outer endof the beam fever shaft 34 heretofore described. The frame to which thelower ends of the standard 6.0: andthe gauge member M are secured may beof east con-- struction, desired. However, in this instance,

the frame comprises a pair of. lateral frame mom-- hers 82 and 83, theouter ends ofwhich are suitably secured to the respective rear and frontends of a bridging frame member 84. I

The frame member 83 extends: inwardly and isthen-bent upwardly and issuitably secured. to the sideframe member H The frame member 82- alsoextends. inwardly and is then bent upwardly and suitably secured to theframe member to. Flowever, this frame member: is also bent outwardly atits upper end then downwardly, as at. 9t (Figured) to serve as a supportfor an. upper restrai-n inga-rm 9i suitably secured thereto,; as by ascrew- 92. The outer end of an angularly disposed bra-c?- ing member-93. is suitably secured to the lower surface of the member 82,. this.bracing member 93 extending downwardly and inwardly and be ing suitablysecured at its lower end to the sideframe member 1 0 lower restrainingmember 34 is suitably secured intermediate the ends of the lowerhorizontal portion of the frame member 82. and the friction disk 40longitudinally of the shaft 26 and relative to the restraining members9t at. I

It is thus seen that the restraining members 9! and 9% restrain thestator friction element or'di-s-kfrom rotation. Although theenlargedannular portion 52' (Figures 1 and 10) of the lever arm 5!. looselysurrounds the pressure applying disk 4%,. the lever Si is held intheposition shown due to;

the pressure between the stator friction element- Ml and the cam 'Hiandthe cam 65 (Figures 1, 4,.-

5, '7 and 8) In operation, the pressure of the stator frictionelement-41f against the friction blocks 43 on the rotor: frictionelement 4!: gradually decreases as the diameter of the warp wound aboutthe warp beam f5 decreases because of the outer surface of the frontends of the cam member 15 being spaced further from the disks 4b, 4!than the outer surface of the front end thereof and, of

course, when the warp on the warp beam H is. of relatively largediameter. As the warp yarns.

Y are paid off of the warpheam [-4, the diameter of the warp decreaseswhereupon the torsion spring, 31: (Figures 3 and. 6) causes thebeamlever 33 to move in a counter-clockwise direction in Figure 1, movingthe auxiliary follower arm accordingly.

Since the outer surface of: the cam: 15 nearest the shaft 26 is spacedcloser to the rotor frictionelement 4| than the outer surface of theremote or free end of the cam l5, this gradually relaxes the pressure ofthe statorfriction element 40 against the rotor friction element 4-!thereby insuring that the yarn-s Y are maintained under a constantuniform tension regardless of the diam.-- eter of the warp wound aboutthe warp beam M."

It occasionally becomes necessary for an open" ator to rotate the warpbeam 4' in either direc tion, such as: when replacing an empty warp beamwith a filled warp beam. or for various other rea-' sons and, imorderthat the operator is not'eni-z cumbered by the friction let-oftmechanism, it is merely necessary for the operator to grasp the handleportion 1| and to rotate the shaft 51 to move the cam 66 from theposition shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5. This willsimultaneously permit the pressure applying mechanism 50 to moveoutwardly relative to the friction disks 40, 4| and thereby permit freerotation of the rotor friction element 4| and the let-01f shaft 26.After the operator has rotated the warp beam M as desired, the lever arm5| is held in the proper position relative to the pressure applying disk41 as the cam 66 is returned to the position shown in Figure 4 to againcause the stator friction element 40 to bear against the friction blocks43 on the rotor friction element 4|.

As is well known, the tension required in the yarns Y varies withdifferent types of yarns, the amount of twist in the yarns and the typeof cloth into which the yarns are to be woven. Accordingly, the tensionin the yarns Y may be varied relative to a particular diameter of thewarp on the warp beam without changing the position of the follower 16on the cam follower arm 80 relative to the cam 15 by adjusting theadjustment screw 63 in the manner heretofore described (Figures 1, 4 and5). It is evident that this varies the amount of pressure exerted on thedisk 40 by the pressure applying mechanism 50 (Figure relative to thefollower 16 (Figures 3, 6 and 7) on the arm 80 being in engagement witha given point on the cam 15. The peripheral flange 42 (Figure '7) on thestator friction element or disk 40 serves to shield the friction blocks43 from lint and other foreign matter.

It is thus seen that we have provided an improved friction left-offmechanism of simple construction with resultant economy in producing andmaintaining the same and wherein means are provided for compensating forthe decrease in diameter of the warp on the warp beam by accuratelyvarying the pressure between the friction surfaces of the let-01fmechanism. Moreover, a means is provided to adjust the pressure betweenthe friction surfaces of the let-off mechanism so the tension in thewarp yarns may be varied relative to a given diameter of the warp on thewarp beam. It is also evident that the pressure between the frictionsurfaces of the letoff mechanism may be quickly released to facilitatemanual rotation of the warp beam or to relieve the tension in the warpyarns during periods in which the loom may not be in operation therebyassisting in preventing the occurrence of "set-mar in the woven cloth.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

We claim:

1. In a loom having a rotatable warp beam provided with warp threadswound thereon, an improved friction let-off comprising a first frictiondisk, a driving connection between the warp beam and said first frictiondisk for imparting rotation to the first friction disk, a secondfriction disk restrained from rotation and frictionally engaging saidfirst friction disk and cam controlled means responsive to variations inthe diameter of the warp on the warp beam for maintaining said frictiondisks in pressure engage- 8 ment and for, accordingly, varying thepressure of the friction disks relative to each other.

2. In a loom having a rotatable warp beam provided with warp woundthereon, a friction letoff mechanism having its input end connected tosaid warp beam, a stationary element and a rotary element connected tothe output end of said mechanism and having juxtaposed surfaces insliding engagement, a manually movable cam means normally applyingpressure to said elements, adjustable means normally engaging said cammeans and causing said cam means to apply pressure to said elements,means controlled by the diameter of the warp on the warp beam andco-acting with said cam means to reduce thepressure applied to saidelements as said diameter reduces, and said cam means being movable outof engagement with the adjustable means to quickly release the pressureon the friction elements relative to each other and to therebyfacilitate free rotational movement of the warp beam.

3. An improved friction let-off for a loom haying a rotatable warp beamprovided with Warp wound thereon, a gear on said warp beam and a gearconnected to said warp beam gear, said friction let-off mechanismcomprising a first friction disk rotatable by said gear connected to thewarp beam gear, a second friction disk restrained from rotation andfrictionally engaging said first friction disk, a pressure applyingmechanism movable axially against at least one of said friction disksfor maintaining the said friction disks in pressure engagement, and camactuated means controlled by the diameter of the warp on the warp beamfor moving said pressure applying mechanism axially of the frictionmechanism to vary the pressure exerted by the pressure applying disk onthe corresponding friction element and to thereby maintain the warpunder constant and uniform tension as the diameter of the warp on thewarp beam decreases.

4. In a loom having a rotatable warp beam provided with warp woundthereon, the combination of a first rotatable friction element,mechanical connections between the warp beam and the first frictionelement for imparting rotation from the warp beam to the first frictionelement, a second friction element restrained from rotation andfrictionally engaging said rotatable friction element, an axiallymovable pressure applying mechanism for maintaining said frictionelements in pressure engagement, cam means carried by the pressureapplying mechanism, and movable means movable in response to variationsin the diameter of the warp on the warp beam and engaging said cam meanson the pressure applying mechanism to cause axial movement of thepressure applying mechanism to thereby vary the pressure exerted by thepressure applying mechanism on the friction elements according to thediameter of the Warp on the warp beam and to maintain the warp underconstant and uniform tension as the diameter of the warp beam decreases.

5. In a loom having a rotatable warp beam provided with warp woundthereon, the combination of a rotatable friction element, meansoperatively connecting said warp beam to said friction element forcausing said friction element to rotate in proportion to the speed ofsaid warp beam, a friction element movable axially into pressureengagement with said rotatable friction element, a pressure applyingmechanism for pressing said axially movable friction element intoengagement with the rofor pressing said axially movable friction elementinto engagement with the rotatable friction element and including alever, a cam on one end of said lever, follower means engaging said camto press the pressure applying mechanism into engagement with theaxially movable element, means controlled by the diameter of the warp onthe warp beam for moving said follower means relative to the cam, saidcam being of such configuration as to cause axial movement of thepressure applying mechanism and the axially movable friction element ina direction to decrease the pressure effected by the pressure applyingmechanism on the axially movable frictionelement as the diameter of theWarp on the warp beam decreases, means to lock said pressure applyingmechanism in pressure applying position while said follower means is inengagement with said cam, and manually operable means to move saidlocking means to inoperative position to release the pressure applyingmechanism from pressure applying position to thereby facilitate freerotation of the warp beam and the rotatable friction element.

12. In a structure according to claim 11, means to adjust said lockingmeans relative to the axially movable friction element to vary thepressure efiected by the pressure applying mechanism relative to thepressure exerted thereon by the follower means engaging said cam.

13. In a loom having a rotatable warp beam provided with warp woundthereon; the combination of a rotatable friction disk, a drivingconnection between the warp beam and the rotatable friction disk forimparting rotation from the warp beam to said disk, an axially movablefriction disk restrained from rotation and frictionally engaging saidrotatable friction disk, a pressure applying mechanism for pressing saidaxially movable friction disk into engagement with the rotatablefriction disk including a lever disposed outwardly of and extendingtransversely relative to said axially movable friction disk, meanspivotally supporting one end of said lever to one side of the axis ofthe axially movable friction disk and being so arranged as to permitmovement of said lever toward and away from the axially movable frictiondisk, means carried by the medial portion of said lever for pressingagainst the axially movable friction disk, a cam on the other end ofsaid lever, follower means engaging said cam, means controlled by thediameter f the warp on the warp beam for moving said follower meansrelative to the cam, and said cam being so configured as to cause axialmovement of the pressure applying mechanism and the axially movablefriction disk in a direction to decrease the pressure effected by thepressure applying mechanism on the axially movable friction disk as thediameter of the warp on the warp beam decreases.

14. In a structure according to claim 13 wherein said loom has a shaftdisposed in spaced substantially parallel relationship to the axis ofsaid friction disks and a beam lever fixed on said shaft and bearingagainst the warp on said warp beam, said cam being in the form of anelongated member carried by and extending substantially parallel to theportion of said first-named lever remote from the pivoted end thereof,the outer surface of said elongated member being tapered relative to theaxially movable friction disk so that one end of the elongated member isdisposed further from the axially movable friction disk than the otherend thereof, and said follower means including an arm fixed on saidshaft and having means thereon engageable with the outer surface of saidelongated member carried by the firstnamed lever.

15. In a structure according to claim 13, said means pivotallysupporting one end of said lever including a manually rotatableeccentric cam carried by said lever and having a notch in the high pointof the periphery thereof, said eccentric cam being mounted on an axissubstantially perpendicular to the axis of said disks, a stationarystandard spaced outwardly from said eccentric cam relative to theaxially movable friction disk, a plunger mounted in said standard foradjustment parallel to axis of said disks, and having means thereonnormally engaging the notch in said eccentric cam whereby said lever maypivot at the juncture of the cam with said means carried by the plunger,and whereby manual rotation of said eccentric cam will permit, thepivoted end of said lever to move outwardly relative to the firstrotatable friction disk to release the axially movable friction diskfrom pressure engagement with the rotatable friction disk.

LOUIS P. RANDALL. MILES W. SNIPES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 43,338 Reynolds June 28, 1864 62,369 Saunders Feb. 26, 1867117,768 Graichen Aug. 8, 1871 503,462 Emery Aug. 15, 1893 1,466,100Northrop Aug. 28, 1923 2,135,098 Bodie Nov. 1, 1938

